Dear Friends, it is with great pleasure that I welcome you back to RAM Spreaders News.

Things have been hectic since the last edition. We deepened our relationship with key accounts, expanded out geographical footprint, scored an award and are in the process of working on new product launches.

Delivering Value to CustomersIt is always heartening to hear how our systems solve business challenges and increase productivity for our customers. Hence, you can imagine our excitement when we hear about the excellent feedback Transnet Port Terminals received from their customers following their introduction of the Containerised Bulk Handling system, using our RAM Revolver rotating spreader and broke loading rate records for the port.

Another customer in Latvia, Riga Universal Terminals, also saw an improvement in their biomass productivity with the implementation of the RAM Revolver Containerised Bulk Handling System. Being the very first RAM Revolver operating in Europe, this achievement is especially significant. See article on page 8 of our PDF newsletter.

Bolstering Our Market PresenceAs a result of China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, Russia and the CIS markets are seeing unprecedented growth. In order to leverage the opportunities presented by the growing CIS region, in particular Black and Caspian Sea, we have added a new member – Evgenii Kudriavtcev – to our team. Based in Russia, Evgenii is tasked to grow our presence in the CIS region with the full range of RAM-SMAG range of spreaders and bulk handling equipment.

Winning a Business Accolade
Just months after we bagged the International Bulk Journal Innovative Technology Award, we received another prestigious award at the recent SME100 Awards. RAM was awarded the SME100 Award for Fast Moving Companies in Singapore. This is a proud achievement that belonged to everyone. It would have been impossible without the support of our staff, partners and customers.

New Developments
As a forward looking company, we continue to keep a close watch on market trends in the container handling and bulk handling industry, exploring relevant opportunities. I am glad to share that our research and development efforts have been fruitful, and in the coming months, we will be launching new products, which will provide customers with an even bigger choice of machines to suit their needs. In particular, you can look forward to next generation PinSmart™ Automated Twistlock Handling.

This is an exciting time for us as a company. We are achieving many great breakthroughs. But we are mindful that these are only possible with continued help and support from you – our customers and friends. Thank you and we look forward to another great year with you in 2018.

Welcome to the third instalment of our newsletter which allows us to share our news and innovations with our customers and friends.

Since our last newsletter in September 2016, we have achieved many successes in the last quarter of 2016.

As a result of an independent report, we saw ports and terminals leaning towards the benefits of using single hoist cranes for multiple container lifts. The report produced for a port in Asia conducted a cost and operational analysis between single hoist and dual hoist cranes for multiple container lifting and compared headblock connections from three different spreader equipment manufacturers.The report recommended for ports to consider using single hoist cranes. More significantly, the RAM SingFlex headblock connection was identified to rank first in a number of test parameters.

We also saw in November 2016 how our dedication in providing innovative solutions helped RAM and MMG Las Bambas Peru win the International Bulk Journal Innovative Technology Award 2016. The IBJ Awards celebrate excellence in the bulk handling industry. And the achievement of this award recognised not just our hard work, strength and dedication, but also our ability to work with our customer – MMG Las Bambas – in developing the world’s first Bi-Modal Containerised Bulk Handling solution.

We obtained new welding certification in line with international and European standards following the changes in the DIN 18800 certification and its replacement by new welding standards. We also began a new Leadership Quality Programme to further enhance the quality and productivity at our manufacturing facility.

Please click here for full roundup of our top news, details of the award win and other developments during the last quarter of 2016.

We are pleased to announce that RAM Spreaders and MMG Las Bambas won the International Bulk Journal Innovative Technology Award 2016.

The awards ceremony held at the iconic Tower of London UK was hosted by IBJ and took place on the evening of 21 November 2016.

Among the awards which recognised excellence in the bulk handling industry, RAM Spreaders together with MMG Las Bambas Peru were shortlisted by the IBJ panel of judges for the innovative Bi-Modal Containerised Bulk Handling solution.

The judges were impressed with how RAM and MMG worked together to come up with the world’s first Bi-modal bulk handling solution, which allows MMG to export copper concentrate from the remote mine in Peru in sealed containers by road, then rail prior to arriving at its final destination at the port of Matarani – situated 710km away.

The innovative solution allows the commodity to be directly loaded into sealed containers and opened only when it is tipped into hoppers at the final port destination with the help of the RAM Revolver®.

Central to this solution is the use of sealed containers as a method of transport and storage, thereby reducing dust generation while protecting the commodity from contamination.

In addition, the reduction of commodity transfer points and exposure to the environment not only speeds up the transportation process and reduces commodity loss during the process, but is also environmentally friendly.

The containers arrive by rail into the rail transfer building at the port. There, the two RAM Revolvers that are fitted to bridge cranes will lift and move the container over to the hopper before lifting the lid, rotating the container and tipping the commodity into hoppers to be ready for the ἀnal export process to the ships hold.

Reflecting on the Award, Philip Lee, CEO of RAM Spreaders commented “This is a fantastic achievement for both RAM and MMG Las Bambas. It more than recognises the hard work and dedication of all involved to demonstrate that we can make a real difference and do our part in developing ways to export cleanly and efficiently”

PSA Panama International Terminal S.A.

Once again, global port operator PSA International has entrusted RAM Spreaders with one of their most critical operational elements that is essential to the provision of continuous and reliable services – Spreaders.

PSA Panama has acquired eight new Super Post Panamax Quay cranes with 10 RAM 2940 Separating Twinlift Spreaders. This recent order adds to the three existing RAM 3530 All Electric RTG spreaders, bringing the total number of RAM spreaders with PSA Panama to 13.

With over 200 fully operational spreaders in Panama, RAM becomes one of the leading spreader suppliers in the largest container transshipment hub in Latin America.

Bali and Jeju Islands

The RSLT Group’s year-end company trips were among the most highly anticipated events by the staff. The trips were organised in recognition of the Group’s success and achievements in 2016. While the RSLT staff enjoyed an idyllic island trip to Bali, RSC staff had a memorable holiday at the Jeju Island.

An Indonesian island known for its forested volcanic mountains, rice paddies, beaches and coral reefs, Bali Island provided RSLT staff an opportunity to savour the breathtaking views of Tanah Lot as well as be charmed by traditional dances and the gorgeous sunset at Jimbaran beach.

Meanwhile, the RSC staff were spellbound by the natural beauty of Jeju Island which is characterised by lava caves, sandy beaches and spectacular craters. Particularly, the grand Halla Mountain located at the centre of the 1,800 square metre island left the staff awestruck.

Walking Towards Better Quality

In an effort to further strengthen the quality of products manufactured at RAM SMAG Engineering (Changshu) Co., Ltd (RSC), the Company introduced the “Leadership Quality Walk” programme.

This programme engages all mid-level managers and supervisors to gather at the shop foor for a walk around the facility. The walk-around initiative will allow the respective managers and supervisors to gain a better understanding of interrelated processes and operations in other departments.

Notably, apart from inspecting the quality of work produced at each station, managers’ attention will also be drawn to details, including 5S, cleanliness, organisation and handling of work pieces.

In-depth and lively discussions are encouraged to recommend ways to help enhance the current work quality and productivity.

“The objective of ‘Leadership Quality Walk’ is to raise awareness of managers and supervisors concerning quality, as well as to instil in them the importance of taking ownership in quality. To achieve quality products, we need to start from the beginning, and to pay attention to every detail during each process and operation.”– Htay Aung, Chief Operating Officer – RSC

RSC Obtains EN1090 & EN ISO3838 Welding Certification

In replacement of the now obsolete DIN 18800 welding standard and to be in line with the parent company PEINER SMAG Lifting Technologies quality system, RAM SMAG Engineering (Changshu) Co, Ltd (RSC) has achieved new certifcations – EN 1090 and ISO 3834.

In compliance with the new requirements, a dedicated Welding Supervision Team made up of qualified welding inspectors, led by a certified welding engineer has been set up. The new certifications place emphasis on welding quality assurance, which involves the controlling of production process in addition to inspecting and testing the welded product.

Significantly, these new certifications ensure that the RAM product quality is of a high quality – meeting international recognition and complying with European regulation.